Heat exchanger tube support construction



Dec. 12, 1961 GARDNER ETAL 3,012,761

HEAT EXCHANGER TUBE SUPPORT CONSTRUCTIQN Filed Sept. 4, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet J.

INVENTORS KI/I'ZA. Gwrdnez; Jahwzmes Lode "n miam yelfiyder awrgw ATTORNEYS Dec. 12, 1961 K. A. GARDNER ETAI. 3,012,761

HEAT EXCHANGER TUBE SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 4, 1958 INVENTORS lu'l 14. Gwninez; Johannes Lode w yefliydez gwQew ATTORNEYS 3,012,761 HEAT EXCHANGER TUBE SUBPORT @UNSTRUCTIUN Karl A. Gardner, near Canton, Johannes Lode, near Massillon, and Anthony J. Ryder, Massiilon, Ohio,

assignors to The Griscom-Russell Company, Massillon,

tibia, a corporation of Delaware Filed isept. 4, 1958, Ser. No. 758,953 16 Gianna (til. 257236) Our invention relates to improvements in heat exchanger tube support construction, and more specifically to a spring band support construction preferably for finned tubes in heat exchangers. Even more specifically, our invention relates to a particular construction of spring band which may be mounted surrounding the tubes of a heat exchanger at locations on the tubes at which these tubes pass through and are supported by the support plates, and also to the particular arrangement of the support plates in combination with this unique spring band construction.

In heat exchangers and particularly the type of heat exchanger in which heat exchange tubes having spiral fins are used, where the length of the heat exchanger is relatively great, it is necessary to provide spaced supporting plates therein for supporting each of the tubes at intermediate points along their lengths as these tubes extend between the headers or" the exchanger. Further, some cover means must be used around the fins at the locations of the supporting plates in order to properly support the tubes.

Certain prior constructions of heat exchangers of this particular type have merely used fiat metal bands surrounding the tubes at the support plate locations, which bands and tubes are received through openings formed in the plates.

It is necessary in such a construction, in order to permit assembly of the tubes in the heat exchanger, to provide the openings through the support plates slightly larger in diameter than the outer diameter of the flat bands surrounding the fins on the tubes, which bands are finally positioned at the support plates and within said openings. This is necessary since the tubes are normally assembled in the heat exchanger lengthwise through the previously assembled support plates, therefore requiring clearance between the tube surrounding bands anc. the support plates in order to prevent damage to the tubes from buckling during assembly. This, however, has created a problem, particularly where the finally assembled heat exchanger is to be used where high pressures and velocities of the heat exchange medium are encountered, and also where the heat exchanger is located in an area containing mechanically moving machinery.

These high pressures and velocities of the heating medium sometimes tend to set up vibrations in the heat exchanger tubes, so that these tubes, vibrating against the support plates, because of the necessary clearance between the tube bands and plates, create a considerable noise. Also, these vibrations are set up from the adjacent machinery, thereby increasing the noise problem. This problem is still further complicated by the fact that as the tubes and tube bands vibrate against the support plates, due to the clearance therebetween, a certain amount of wear is caused at the openings in the support plates, and in this way the clearance is gradually increased so that the tubes are subjected to even greater vibrations.

It is, therefore, desirable to provide some means of engagement between the heat exchanger tubes and the support plates, which maintains a secure engagement and support between the tubes and the support plates, but yet permits an assembly of the tubes lengthwise through a series of the support plates. Furthermore, it is not only necessary that the engagement between the tubes and support plates is secure to prevent the above described vibration and noise problem, but at the same time it is necessary to provide means for a limited lengthwise movement of the tubes with respect to the support plates during the operation of the heat exchanger, in order that the tubes may expand and contract lengthwise to a slight degree due to changing temperature conditions.

It is, therefore, a general object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger tube support construc tion which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior constructions as outlined above, yet solves the foregoing problems.

it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger tube support construction in which the tubes may be easily assembled with the support plates of the heat exchanger, yet when fully assembled the tubes are finally engaged with and properly supported by the support plates.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger tube support construction in which the tubes are properly supported by the support plates once assembled, but which construction permits limited lengthwise movement of the tubes with respect to the sup port plates as occasioned by expansion and contraction of the tubes due to changing temperature conditions.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger tube support construction in which the tubes when in final assembled position are securely supported by the support plates by means of a spring engagement between the tubes and the plates.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger tube support construction in which the various elements including the support plates are so arranged as to eliminate the danger of damage to the tubes during the assembly operation, even though a series of support plates are required and used in the heat exchanger.

it is also an object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger tube support construction in which the various support plates are so arranged and co-operate with means on the tubes securely engaging the tubes with the support plates so as to reduce the danger of noise caused by vibrations during use of the exchanger, and which prevents vibrations from causing wear between the tubes and the support plates.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a heat exchanger tube support construction which satisfies all of the above objects in an inexpensive and efficient manner.

These and other objects are accomplished by the parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and subcombinations comprising the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, a preferred embodiment of which-illustrative of the best mode of which applicants have contemplated applying the principles-is set forth in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and which is particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming a part hereof.

In general terms, the heat exchanger tube support constructi-on comprising the present invention may be stated as including a longitudinally extending tube preferably having spiral fins mounted on the outer surface thereof and extending generally radially therefrom, a band secured surrounding a certain portion of the tube and the fins at said tube portion. series of spaced openings formed therethrough, each open ing being spaced from the ends of the band providing a series of spaced longitudinally extending partitions therebetween. These partitions are each bowed longitudinally of and radially outwardly of the tube to provide a spring The band is provided with a.

engagement at spaced locations around the circumference of the tube with a support plate through which the tube may be assembled.

The invention may also include a particular spaced arrangement of the heat exchanger support plates Where more than two support plates are used, so that the longitudinal spacing between any next adjacent support plates is different from the spacing between any other next adjacent support plates by an amount at least as great as the longitudinal length of the bowed portions on the band partitions or the longitudinal thicknesses of the support plates, whichever is greater, and with the tube bands having substantially the same spacing as the support plates. In this manner, no more than one tube supporting band is required to pass through a supporting plate at one time until the tube bands are in position to be engaged with the particular supporting plate with which they are engaged in final assembled position.

By way of example, an embodiment of the heat exchanger tube support construction of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals indicate similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, part in vertical section, of a conventional heat exchanger incorporating the construction of the present invention;

FIG. 2, an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the spring band construction comprising the present invention, assembled surrounding a tube having spiral fins mounted thereon;

FIG. 3, an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4, an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, part in elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows 4-4 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5, a perspective view showing the spring band construction comprising a part of the present invention, prior to assembly with a heat exchanger tube;

FIG. 6, a somewhat schematic view illustrating a tube having the spring band construction comprising a part of the present invention, mounted at various longitudinal locations thereon during the assembly of such tube with a series of particularly positioned heat exchanger supporting plates; and

FIG. 7, a view similar to FIG. 6, but showing the tube finally assembled with the heat exchanger support plates.

The form of heat exchanger shown in FIG. 1 is not of particular consequence to the present invention, and is only shown in the particular form for illustration purposes. The two portions of this heat exchanger which affect the present invention are the particular means by which the tubes thereof are engaged with the support plates within the exchanger, and also preferably the particular longitudinal spacing of these support plates in Colt'lblIlHlIlOl'l with this supporting means.

As shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger may include the conventional shell portion 10, header portions 11 and 12 and support plates 13, 14, 15 and 16. These support plates are assembled within the heat exchanger shell by means of the usual series of tie rods 17, and serve to support at intermediate longitudinal locations a series of longitudinally extending tubes 18, preferably having spiral fins 19 mounted on the outer surfaces thereof.

As shown enlarged in FIG. 2, each tube 18, according to the principles of the present invention, is provided at the locations on the tube where it contacts the various support plates 13, 14, and 16, with a surrounding relatively thin metal band 20, which band extends longitudinally or lengthwise of the tube, preferably the longitudinal thickness of each support plate. It is preferred to turn or lay over the outer fin edges 21 of the fins 19 throughout the longitudinal extent of the bands 20, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the bands, when assembled with the tubes surrounding the fins, have an outer diameter dimension at the band end portions 22. substantially equal to the outer diameter dimension of the fins 19.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, each band 20 is preferably formed from a relatively thin continuous strip of steel having the opposite ends welded together, as at 23 in FIG. 2, to form the hollow generally cylindrical band or ring. Further, each band 20 is provided with a series of preferably uniform size and preferably uniformly spaced openings 24, formed therethrough between the end portions 22, providing a series of preferably uniformly spaced and preferably uniform size partition members 25 extending between and joining the end portions 22.

The partition members 25 are each bowed radially outwardly from the outer diameter of the band end portions 22, so that the maximum diameter each of the partition members 25 is a uniform measured amount greater than the maximum diameter of the end portions 22. Furthermore, these bowed portions 26 of the partition members 25 are preferably formed in an arcuate manner with a relatively smooth outer surface for purposes to be hereinafter discussed.

Thus, by mounting the bands 25} surrounding the tubes 18, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and by forming longitudinally aligned openings through the support plates 13, 14, 15 and 16, which openings 27 have a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the band end portions 22, but less than the outer diameter of the partition bowed portion 26, each tube 18 may be inserted through the support plate openings 27 to the final assembled position, as shown in FIG. 1. Due to the arcuate and smooth outer surface configuration of the partition bowed portions 26, these portions form spring members which compress radially inwardly as each band and tube is slid longitudinally through one of the support plates. Also, when the tubes are in final assembled position, each tube will have a band 20 located between the tube and each of the support plates 13, 14, 15 and 16, with the partition bowed portion 26 being compressed slightly radially inwardly providing a spring engagement at a series of circumferentially spaced points for firmly engaging each tube with each of the support plates, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Thus, these partition bowed portions 26 provide a secure engagement between the tubes 18 and the support plate 13, 14, 15 and 16 preventing any noise from vibrations being set up between these tubes and plates. Also, again due to the smooth bowed configuration of these partition bowed portions 26, slight lengthwise or longitudinal movement of the tubes 18, due to expansion and contraction thereof, is permitted, while still maintaining this tight engagement between the tubes and support plates.

In order to provide a maximum spring engagement between the bands and the support plates 13, 14, 15 and 16, it is desirable to space these support plates in the heat exchanger in a particular manner in order to eliminate the danger of damaging the tubes, such as by buckling during the assembly operation. As shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, the spacing between the support plates 13, 14, 15 and 16 is such that during assembly of the tubes with the support plates, and until the tube is in position ready to engage the bands 26 thereof with the particular support plates in which these bands finally are assembled, no more than one band 20 of each tube may be engaged with and pass longitudinally through one of the support plates, so that the only pressure required for moving the tube lengthwise or longitudinally is that required to force one band 20 through one of the support plates.

For instance, assuming the partition bowed portions 26 of the bands 20 have less longitudinal length than the longitudinal thickness of each of the support plates 13, 14, 15 and 16, then this proper spacing of the support plates would be accomplished by having the spacing between any next adjacent plates dilfer from the spacing between every other next adjacent plates, an amount equal to the longitudinal thickness of the plates. If, however, the partition bowed portions 26 of the bands 24? have a greater longitudinal length than the longitudinal thickness of the support plates, it is necessary to have the difference in spacing between adjacent plates equal to at least the ion gitudinal length of these partition bowed portions.

Thus, taking the first set of conditions, that is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the partition bowed portions 26 are of less longitudinal length than the longitudinal thicknesses of the plates 13, 14, and 16, FIG. 6 illustrates a tube 18 partially assembled with the plates. As shown, the spacing between plates 13 and 14 is a given longitudinal distance, the spacing between plates 14 and 15 is less than this given longitudinal distance by an amount at least as great as the longitudinal thickness of the plates, and the distance between plates 15 and 16 is greater than this given longitudinal distance by an amount at least as great as the longitudinal thickness of the plates.

During the particular stage of the assembly, as shown in FIG. 6 therefore, with one of the tubes 18 being inserted in the direction of the arrow 28, that is, from left to right as shown in FIG. 6, one band 24 is engaged with the plate 14 while each of the other bands is spaced different distances from the plates 13 and 15. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, the only place at which each of the bands 2%} simultaneously engages with the plates 13, 14, 15 and 16 is in the last stage of the assembly when these bands are being engaged with the particular support plate with which they will remain finally assembled.

As a practical matter, since each of the bands 26, except the band to be finally assembled with the support plate 13, at the time of the final assembly of each band with its particular support plate takes place, these bands will have been slid longitudinally through at least one support plate, so that any roughness on the outer surfaces of the partition bowed portions 26 will have been scraped and smoothed out, thereby decreasing the danger of damaging the tube during this last and simultaneous engagement of each of the bands with its particular support plate. Further, an added advantage which is gained from having the support plates varying distances apart, as before described, is that any vibrations which would normally tend to be set up in the tubes 18 between these support plates will be greatly diminished, since each length of tube extending between each set of support plates will have a different resonance, so that the vibrations will not be transferred between these various lengths of tubes, but rather will tend to be dampened.

Thus, according to the principles of the present invention, by the use of the band 20 surrounding the tubes at the location of the support plates of a heat exchanger, a positive spring engagement is provided between the tubes and the support plates which eliminates any noise between the tubes and support plates and any wear therebetween caused by vibrations being transferred through the various parts of the heat exchanger. Furthermore, although this spring engagement prevents this noise and wear, it still permits slight longitudinal or lengthwise movement of the tubes with respect to the support plates, as caused by expansion and contraction of the tubes from changing temperature conditions.

Also, when the particular spacing of the support plates is provided in combination with the spring band construction, the danger of damaging the tubes during assembly is virtually eliminated. Finally, when spiral fins are mounted on the tubes, by turning or laying over the outer extremities of these fins at the locations of the spring bands, the end portions of the spring bands may have an outer diameter substantially equal to the normal outer diameter of the remainder of the fins, so that the only portion of the spring band which projects radially outwardly of the remainder of the fins is the bowed spring engaging portion thereof, thereby permitting the openings through the support plates for receiving the tubes to be a minimum diameter.

In the foregoing description, certainterms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiment of the improved construction illustrated and described herein is by way of ex ample, and the scope of the present invention is limited to the exact details of the construction shown.

Having now described the invention, the construction, operation and use of a preferred embodiment thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art are set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Heat exchanger tube support construction including a longitudinally extending tube having an outer surface, fin means mounted on and extending outwardly from the tube outer surface and having outer edges spaced outwardly of said tube outer surface, portions of the outer edges of the fin means being turned over and forming generally longitudinally extending mounting surfaces, the mounting surfaces of the turned over fin means being located outwardly a distance less than the outward extension of the remainder of the fin means, a support band telescoped over and completely laterally surrounding and abutting the mounting surfaces of certain of the turned over fin means, a series of laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending partition members formed in the support band forming a series of laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending openings therebetween, a portion of each partition member being smoothly bowed arcuately outwardly away from the tube and fin means and having a maximum outward extension greater than the maximum outward extension of the fin means to pro vide a series of spaced spring engagement portions around the tube and fin means, a heat exchanger support plate having a tube hole formed therethrough, and the tube being positioned extending longitudinally through the support plate hole with the support band positioned within said support plate hole and said spring engagement portions engaged with the support plate within said support plate hole.

2. Heat exchanger tube support construction including a longitudinally extending tube having an outer surface, fin means mounted on and extending outwardly from the tube outer surface and having outer edges spaced outwardly of said tube outer surface, portions of the outer edges of the fin means being turned over and forming generally longitudinally extending mounting surfaces, the mounting surfaces of the turned over fin means being located outwardly a distance less than the outward extension of the remainder of the fin means, a support band telescoped over and completely laterally surrounding and abutting the mounting surfaces of certain of the turned over fin means, a series of laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending partition members formed in the support band forming a series of laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending openings therebetween, a portion of each partition member being smoothly bowed arcuately outwardly away from the tube and fin means and having a maximum outward extension greater than the maximum outward extension of the fin means, the maximum outward extension of the remainder of the sup port band being not greater than the maximum outward extension of the fin means, the bowed portions of the partition members providing a series of spaced spring engagement portions around the tube and fin means, a heat exchanger support plate having a tube hole formed therethrough, and the tube being positioned extending longitudinally through the support plate hole with the support band positioned within said support plate hole 7 and said spring engagement portions engaged with the support plate within said support plate hole.

3. Heat exchanger tube support construction including a longitudinally extending tube having an outer surface, fin means mounted on and extending outwardly from the tube outer surface and having outer edges spaced outwardly of said tube outer surface, portions of the outer edges of the fin means being turned over and forming generally longtiudinally extending mounting surfaces, the mounting surfaces of the turned over fin means being located outwardly a distance less than the outward extension of the remainder of the fin means, a support band telescoped over and completely laterally surrounding and abutting the mounting surfaces or" certain of the turned over fin means, a series of laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending partition members formed in the support band forming a series of laterally spaced generally longtiudinally extending openings therebetween, a portion of each partition member being smoothly bowed arcuately outwardly away from the tube and fin means and having a maximum outward extension greater than the maximum outward extension of the fin means to provide a series of spaced spring engagement portions around the tube and fin means and between the fin means and a support plate of a heat exchanger through which the tube and fin means may extend.

4. Heat exchanger tube support construction including a longitudinally extending tube having an outer surface, fin means mounted on and extending outwardly from the tube outer surface and having outer edges spaced outwardly of said tube outer surface, portions of the outer edges of the fin means being turned over and forming generally longtiudinally extending mounting surfaces, the mounting surfaces of the turned over fin means being located outwardly a distance less than the outward extension of the remainder of the fin means, a support band telescoped over and completely laterally surrounding and abutting the mounting surfaces of certain of the turned over fin means, a series of laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending partition members formed in the support band forming a series of laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending openings therebetween, a portion of each partition member being smoothly bowed arcuately outwardly away from the tube and fin means and having a maximum outward extension greater than the maximum outward extension of the fin means, the maximum outward extension of the remainder of the support band being not greater than the maximum outward extension of the fin means, and the bowed portions of the partition members providing a series of spaced spring engagement portions around the tube and tin means and between the fin means and a support plate of a heat exchanger through which the tube and fin means may extend.

5. Heat exchanger tube support construction as defined in claim 4, in which the fin means are spiral fins.

6. Heat exchanger tube support construction as defined in claim 4, in which the partition members are uniform size spacing the openings uniformly.

7. Heat exchanger tube support construction including a longitudinally extending tube having an outer surface, fin means mounted on and extending outwardly from the tube outer surface and having outer edges spaced outwardly of said tube outer surface, a series of at least three longitudinally spaced portions of the outer edges of the fin means being turned over and forming a series of generally longitudinally extending mounting surfaces, the mounting surfaces of the turned over fin means being located outwardly a distance less than the outward extension of the remainder of the fin means, a series of at least three longitudinally spaced support bands telescoped over and completely laterally surrounding and abutting the mounting surfaces of certain of the turned over fin means, a series of laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending partition members formed in each support band forming a series of laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending openings therebetween, a portion of each partition member being smoothly bowed arcuately outwardly away from the tube and fin means and having a maximum outward extension greater than the maximum outward extension of the fin means to thereby provide a series of spaced spring engagement portions around the tube at each band and between the fin means and support plates through which the tube and fin means may extend; a series of support plates positioned spaced longitudinally of the tube and having tube holes formed thcrethrough longitudinally of the tube, there being a support plate for each tube band and the support plates having thicknesses longitudinally of the tube, the longitudinal spaces between any next adjacent tube bands being different in amount from the longtiudinal spacing of any other next adjacent tube bands by at least the longitudinal length of the partition bowed portions, said longitudinal spacing between any next adjacent tube bands also being different in amount from the longitudinal spacing of any other next adjacent hands by at least the thickness of the support plates, the spaced positions of the support plates being substantially the same as the longitudinal positions of the partition bowed portions, and the tube being positioned extending through the support plate tube holes with a band being positioned between the tube and each support plate and with the partition bowed portions resiliently engaging the support plates.

8. Heat exchanger tube support construction including a longitudinally extending tube having an outer surface, fin means mounted on and extending outwardly from the tube outer surface and having outer edges spaced outwardly of said tube outer surfaces, a series of at least three longitudinally spaced portions of the outer edge of the fin means being turned over and forming a series of generally longitudinally extending mounting surfaces, the mounting surfaces of the turned over fin means being located outward a distance less than the outward extension of the remainder of the fin means, a series of at least three longitudinally spaced support bands telescoped over and completely laterally surrounding and abutting the mounting surfaces of certain of the turned over fin means, a series of laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending partition members formed in each support band forming a series of laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending openings therebetween, a portion of each partition member being smoothly bowed arcuately outwardly away from the tube and fin means and having a maximum outward extension greater than the maximum outward extension of the fin means, the maximum outward extension of the remainder of the support band being not greater than the maximum fin means outward extension, the bowed portions of the partition members providing a series of spaced spring engagement points around the tube and fin means and between the fin means and support plates through which the tube and fin means may extend; a series of support plates positioned spaced longitudinally of the tube and having tube holes formed therethrough longitudinally of the tube, there being a support plate for each tube band and the support plates having thicknesses longitudinally of the tube, the longitudinal spaces between any next adjacent tube bands being different in amount from the longitudinal spacing of any other next adjacent tube hands by at least the longitudinal length of the partition bowed portions, said longitudinal spacing between any next adjacent tube bands also being different in amount from the longitudinal spacing of any other next adjacent hands by at least the thickness of the support plates, the spaced positions of the support plates being substantially the same as the longitudinal positions of the partitioned bowed portions, and the tube being positioned extending through the support plate tube holes with a band being positioned between the tube and each support plate and with the partitioned bowed portions resiliently engaging the support plates.

9. Heat exchanger tube support construction including a longitudinally extending tube having an outer surface, fin means mounted on and extending outwardly from the tube outer surface and having outer edges spaced outwardly of said tube outer surface, a series of at least three longitudinally spaced portions of the outer edge of the fin means being turned over and forming a series of generally longitudinally extending mounting surfaces, the mounting surfaces of the turned over fin means having an outward extension less than the outward extension of the remainder of the fin means, a series of at least three longitudinally spaced support bands telescoped over and completely laterally surrounding and abutting the mounting surface of certain of the turned over fin'means, a series of laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending partition members formed in each support band forming a series of laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending openings therebetween, at least a portion of each partition member being smoothly bowed arcuately outwardly away from the tube and fin means and having a maximum outward extension greater than the maximum outward extension of the fin means and the remainder of the band to thereby provide a series of spaced spring engagement points around the tube at each band and between the tube and support plates through which the tube may extend, the partition bowed portions having longitudinal lengths; a series of support plates positioned spaced longitudinally of the tube and having tube holes formed therethrough longitudinally of the tube, there being a support plate for each tube band and the support plates having thicknesses longitudinally of the tube, the thicknesses of the support plates being at least as great as the longitudinal length of the partition bowed portions, the longitudinal spacing between any next adjacent tube bands being different in amount from the longitudinal spacing between any other next adjacent tube bands by at least the thicknesses of the support plates, the spaced positions of the support plates being substantially the same as the longitudinal positions of the partition bowed portions, and the tube being positioned extending through the support plate tube holes with a band being positioned between the tube and each support plate and with the partition bowed portions resiliently engaging the support plates.

10. Heat exchanger tube support construction including a longitudinally extending tube having an outer surface, a fin means mounted on and extending outwardly from the tube outer surface and having outer edges spaced outwardly of said tube outer surface, a series of at least three longitudinally spaced portions of the outer edge of the fin means being turned over and forming a series of generally longitudinally extending mounting surfaces, the

mounting surfaces of the turned over fin means having an outward extension less than the outward extension of the remainder of the fin means, a series of at least three longitudinally spaced support bands telescoped over and completely laterally surrounding and abutting the mounting surfaces of certain of the turned over fin means, a series of laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending partition members formed in each support band forming a series of laterally spaced generally longitudinally extending openings therebetween, at least a portion of each partition member being smoothly bowed arcuately outwardly away from the tube and fin means and having a maximum outward extension greater than the maximum outward extension of the fin means, the maximum outward extension of the remainder of each support band being not greater than the maximum outward extension of the tin means, the bowed portions of the partition members providing a series of spring engagement portions around the tube and fin means and between the tube and support plates through which the tube and fin means may extend, the partition bowed portions having longitudinal lengths; a series of support plates positioned spaced longitudinally of the tube and having tube holes formed therethrough longitudinally of the tube, there being a support plate for each tube band and the support plates having thicknesses longitudinally of the tube, the thicknesses of the support plates being at least as great as the longitudinal length of the partition bowed portions, the longitudinal spacing between any next adjacent tube bands being difierent in amount from the longitudinal spacing between any other next adjacent tube bands by at least the thicknesses of the support plates, the spaced positions of the support plates being substantially the same as the longitudinal positions of the partition bowed portions, and the tube being positioned extending through the support plate tube holes with a band being positioned between the tube and each support plate and with the partition bowed portions resiliently engaging the support plates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 4, 

